Yolanda McClary, born Yolanda Anna Gonzalez, is a highly accomplished and respected former crime scene investigator who has left an indelible mark on the world of true crime investigation. During the initial three seasons, she collaborated with Kelly Siegler on the groundbreaking true crime series, Cold Justice, which aired on TNT. McClary's vast expertise in the field has also led to appearances in other notable true crime shows, including TNT's Cold Justice: The Odds, which premiered in 2017, The Jane Doe Murders, which debuted in 2021, and The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes, which aired in 2019.
Marg Helgenberger's iconic character on the esteemed television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation drew inspiration from the remarkable career and expertise of a highly accomplished crime scene investigator, whose remarkable dedication and passion for her work spanned an impressive quarter of a century, with a remarkable 16 years of that time devoted to the esteemed crime lab of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a testament to her unwavering commitment to her craft.
Margaret "Peggy" McClary
Born: 1954
Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri
Education: University of Missouri
Career: Crime scene investigator with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Duration of Service: 26 years
Time spent in the crime lab: 16 years
Inspiration for Marg Helgenberger's character on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Noted crime scene investigator, McClary, has had the extraordinary privilege of examining over seven thousand crime scenes throughout her illustrious and storied career, leaving an enduring and profound impact on the realm of forensic science. During the latter stages of her illustrious career, which spanned multiple decades, McClary dedicated her energies to solving crimes that not only resulted in the apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators, but also facilitated the connection of these crimes to multiple other cases, thereby significantly enhancing the overall efficacy of prosecution efforts.
